Psalms 61
DOYLY— when Joab returned, &c.] See 1 Kings xi. 15, 16.
Ver. 2. Thou hast made the earth to tremble; &c. These expressions are figurative, and allude to the convulsions of the state, which had lately happened in the war between the house of Saul and David. Street.
Psalms 61:3
- Thou hast shewed &c.] Thou hast inflicted grievous punishments upon us. Bp. Patrick.
— thou hast made us to drink &c.] Thou hast filled us with no less harrow and trembling, than men who are intoxicated with strong and stupifying drink. Poole.
Psalms 61:4
- Thou hast given a banner &c.] But now, thou hast granted the desires of thy faithful servants according to thy promise; thou hast united them under me their king, to whom they should all repair as soldiers do to their standard. Bp. Patrick, Travell.
Psalms 61:6
- — in his holiness;] In his sanctuary. Mudge.
— I will divide Shechem, &c.] The valley of Succoth lay on the east side of Jordan in the tribe of Gad; and so probably did the Shechem here mentioned. At this time they both seem to have been in the hand of the enemy; and David declares here, that, as soon as he had taken them, he would divide them among his own people. Green.
Psalms 61:7
- Gilead is mine, &c.] Gilead is on my side, and Manasseh is on my side; Ephraim is the helmet of my head; Judah is my sceptre. In this verse the tribes are mentioned which would accompany him in this expedition. Gilead, as it is here distinguished from Manasseh, must mean the tribe of Gad, which was a very warlike tribe. Ephraim seems to have been fixed upon for his helmet to protect his head, as being the most numerous and warlike tribe. Green.
— lawgiver;] Or rather, sceptre; the word in the original signifies a ruler’s staff, or some ensign of authority. Judah was another very warlike tribe. The
Psalms 61:8
- Moab is my washpot; &c.] Meaning, I will reduce these my enemies to the vilest servitude: I will treat Moab as my washpot; I will use the Edomites as slaves, holding forth my shoes that they may pluck them off. Bp. Patrick, Poole.
— Philistia, triumph thou because of me.] That is, receive me as thy conqueror with demonstrations of joy.
Psalms 61:9
- Who will bring me &c.] Bozrah, the capital of Idumea, or Edom, was a fortified town, situated on a rock, deemed impregnable. See Obadiah ver. 3. Considering therefore the strength of the adversary, David, by this question, acknowledgeth his own impotency, and the need he had of superiour aid in order to achieve this important conquest. Bp. Horne.
As David in this Psalm celebrates the power and goodness of God, who had assisted his people, and given them the victory over their enemies; so should we learn, that the strength and assistance of man is under all circumstances but vanity, and there is none but the Lord who can help and deliver us in our distress, and in whom we may safely and perfectly confide. Ostervald.
Psalm LXI. ver. 2. From the end of the earth. Meaning, probably, from the remotest part of Judea. Merrick.
— the rock that is higher than I.] Or, the rock which is too high for me; that is, to a place of safety, which, as without thee, I am not able to reach, so there my enemies may not be able to approach me. Edwards, Bp. Patrick.